In Sept. 2021, A group of my students ages 5-12 recorded a song with me called "The World We Want". One of the lines in the song says "the world we want, it's got so much love. Make the world a better place."
Little did we know at the time that in less than a year we'd be invited to travel to Costa Rica AND Africa to perform!
So, I did a thing a few weeks ago... I went to East Africa and spent a week in Kenya making plans for a collaboration with Baraka Opera Trust, home of the Kenyan Opera, Nyanga: Runaway Grandmother.
Why Are We Taking Students and Families To Kenya?
In conversations with the founder of Baraka Opera Trust, Rhoda Ondeng Wilhelmsen, I discovered that most Kenyans have never even seen an African American in person! (Wow!)
When we think about this fact, it's not surprising that there are many misconceptions on both sides about the other. We've wasted so much time listening to the wrong things about each other and now it's time to find out what we don't know.
It's time for us to teach our children (and ourselves) that Black is Global.
FAME Studio is richly diverse in that we have many parts of the African Diaspora represented- including African American, Haitian, Trinidadian and yes - Kenyan.
Through this trip we will use music as a tool to connect young people who have both a shared history and their own unique experiences on different sides of the world so that together they can help create a more equitable world. Our trip will include pre-teen/teen students ages 9-14, young adult students and family members.
Would you consider making a donation to our Kenya Tour to help students gain global knowledge and awareness? All donations of any amount receive a FREE download of my single "The World We Want". Donations of at least $150 receive a custom handmade gift from Kenya. Click below to donate.
Our Global Partners
